The Trust Signals Blog is a leading resource on trust in PR and marketing, authored by Scott Baradell.

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Scott Baradell

First-Party Reviews: Google's a Fan, So Maybe You Should Be, Too

Third-party validation is one of the best ways to build trust online -- and one of the most powerful forms of validation is a positive review of your...

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Scott Baradell

Beyond Participation Trophies: Applying for Awards To Build Trust in Your Brand

"If everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless."

So said the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David...

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Scott Baradell

Do Your Team Members Have an Achievements Wall on Your Website? They Should

What's the first thing you do when you sit down in your doctor's office -- especially if it's a new doctor? If you're like many people, you check out...

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Scott Baradell

Review Gating: A Common Sense Approach

What is "review gating" and why should you care about it?

Review gating is when a business attempts to first find out if a customer’s experience was...

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Scott Baradell

Why Forbes Councils Is a No Brainer for Thought Leadership

As the blurring of earned and paid media accelerates, the once bright line between editorial content and advertising is rapidly fading. Unfortunately...

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Scott Baradell

Bandwagon Appeal: Woo Buyers Onto Your Bandwagon with These Trust Signals

“He’s such a bandwagon.”

That’s what my 11-year-old son says when one of his friends claims to be a University of Virginia basketball fan --after the...

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Scott Baradell

How to Earn Trust with Wikipedia and Web Directories

In February 2005, immediately upon founding my PR agency as a solo consultancy, I successfully listed Idea Grove on Wikipedia. The glowing reference...

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Scott Baradell

5 Factors That Make People Trust (or Distrust) Online Reviews

You can find customer reviews for virtually anything online today, from a $2 ballpoint pen to a $2 million enterprise software system. But no matter...

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Scott Baradell

What Twitter's New Blue Verified Badge Can Teach Us About Trust

A verified badge on social media has long been one of the most sought-after trust signals on the internet. Having that little blue checkmark next to...

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Scott Baradell

How Are Review Site Star Ratings Calculated? The Answer Is Not What You Think

Once upon a time, if you wanted to visit the best steakhouse in Dallas, you’d ask a friend or relative for a recommendation. If you’re an old soul,...

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